Page 21 of Dark Survivor (The Qaldreth Warriors #2)

Chapter Thirteen

Mula Pesada

En Route to Europa

Tiny froze, angling her ear toward the ceiling. “What did you say?”

“Victoria Barnes has been lost to space.”

A crushing weight squeezed Tiny’s chest, and she staggered back, throwing her hand out to catch the counter. “No, it can’t be.” She pressed a fist to her mouth as the tears flowed. “Oh, Vic,” she sobbed. “When?”

“Hours ago.”

“And you tell me now?” she yelled between sniffs and wiping her cheeks.

“So you heard?” Dieter asked, startling a squeak from her.

“Just,” she rasped, wishing he’d come closer for a hug. She wasn’t going to ask for one, though. “How…did this happen, Deets? Don’t we have safety nets in place or restraints?”

“Some freak accident, so Nikko says.”

Ice drenched Tiny, her ears ringing, her mind spinning, because behind those words lay a tone far too friendly. “Losing a crewmate doesn’t devastate you?”

“Nope.” Dieter laughed. “I say good riddance.”

Hope shriveled inside Tiny’s heart, and the full realization of where she was and with whom she worked slammed into her.

Unexpected deaths were investigated by port authorities, delaying departure and costing a fortune in docking fees.

Safety was paramount. For an accident to happen, especially on an ice hauler, human error had to be involved.

Which implied intent. And judging by his jovialness, he had to have been involved in something like this before.

Would he dispose of her if he thought her a liability?

“You wanted her gone,” she whispered.

His hand on her elbow made her skin crawl. “She lied to us, Tiny. She’s an escaped gladiator and was wanted by Carne.”

She blinked. Well, now, that explains so much about the snippets Vic let slip. “I’m used to nudity,” she’d said, and those almost imperceptible scars, her state-of-the-art cybernetics, and her love of food… Still, Vic had shown Tiny nothing but kindness.

“But—” She cleared her throat. “Handing her over to Carne makes more sense.” She shook her head. “Who else is ‘happy’ about this?”

“Leah and Nikko.”

Nikko hated being lied to. So his lack of remorse was almost forgivable. But why Leah? “Is it because of the busted hand?”

“Yup.” Dieter tugged as if to draw Tiny into his arms, but she pulled way, choosing instead to sink into the chair.

“I…can’t believe you’re so blasé.” She raised her chin despite the pain inside her chest threatening to swallow her whole.

“It’s like I don’t know you. And here I thought you my hero.

” She curled her fingers into fists and rested them on her thighs, gathering her courage.

“You’re nothing but a cold-hearted ass, Deets. ”

He growled. “You’re either for us or against us.”

She stiffened. No way could she afford to burn bridges when she was trapped onboard. Nor did she have anyone she could confide in. She had no idea how far up the chain this disregard for life went. Surely not Trent or Grunt? Not Captain either… Was he even aware of what his crew got up to?

“For, of course. Just pissed you didn’t try to rescue her. Carne might have offered a hefty reward—dead or alive.”

Dieter chuckled. “Yeah, but Leah wouldn’t let me. Nikko didn’t try either, and I ain’t the boss,” he said like that excused his inaction.

“I better stay on Leah’s good side.” Tiny wiggled her brows in a weak attempt to be funny and put Dieter at ease.

“Me too. You never know with her. What Nikko sees in her…” He cursed. “Sorry, wasn’t supposed to reveal—”

“I know about their rule-breaking,” Tiny said.

“Phew, Nikko would chew my ass off. Well, I’ve got to feed the zoo. See ya later.” He stomped off, leaving her alone at last.

“Computer…” She paused. What could she ask?

What really happened? Did she want to know?

No, she preferred to believe Nikko. For now.

Knowing the truth meant she’d have to lie, and without her sight, she couldn’t read expressions.

But she wanted off this hauler. So much for finding her place in the universe.

“Yes, Tiny.”

She slumped and let the tears fall. “Play the audiobook.”

‘Chapter Twenty-One. Date: 2170.14.10. The Colony.

“No, no way.” Naomi shook her head, fastening her uniform with nimble fingers. “I’m not moving in with you, Gibs.”

“Then live with Davis if it’s me you dislike.”

“Dislike? After the way I kissed you?” She snorted. “It’s a no because I like my privacy.”

He trailed after her stomping form, loving the sway of her ponytail and hips. Having her beneath him was only a matter of time, and he could wait, flex his patience for a bit.’

Tiny zoned out, unable to focus. She’d have to replay this part when she didn’t need the computer’s voice to comfort her. Disembarking at Europa was her only chance to escape. Could she do it without letting anyone know? And she’d signed a fargen contract.

“Oh, Dad, what have I done?” she wailed like a disobedient child.

She’d been ‘safe’ at Celestial. Would Maddy take her back? She barked out a hysterical laugh. Here she was, making a difference. What a fool to think a blind doctor could be of value…

Nor did she dare contact her family, unsure whether her correspondence was being monitored. She rose… Who could she trust? She had to risk speaking to someone.

“Pause audiobook and rewind to chapter twenty-one for next time,” she said and left, trailing her hand along the walls. She’d need access to Earth or Europa. Instead of heading to her room, she paused outside Grunt’s door. It opened before she could knock.

“Come on in, Tiny.” He shut the door behind her, a solid thunk making her shiver in its finality.

“I…” She hesitated, unsure how to phrase it.

“You heard about Vic and now believe you’re not safe.”

At his words, she whipped her head up, settling her gaze in his direction. “How—”

“I see everything onboard.” Grunt sighed and sat, his chair squeaking beneath him.

Farg. It’s as bad as I thought. Tiny squared her shoulders. “How do I get off?”

“You can’t,” he said. “Europa waystations aren’t accepting applicants or refugees. You’ll have to wait until our next port.”

“The whole moon’s not available?” She bit her lip, fighting the tears stinging her eyes.

He hesitated. “’Fraid so. You can do it, Tiny. Stay in the med bay and don’t involve yourself in anything other than medical.” He rose, his chair wheeling back. With a gentle touch, he patted her cheeks with a soft cloth. “I’ll set Computer to warn you with a safe word…”

“Celestial,” she whispered, not sure whether she could believe Grunt. But why would he lie? Why would he deceive her when there was nothing to gain from it? “The last place I called home.”

“Very well.”

She caught his hand close to her face. “Who else can I trust, Grunt?”

Silence met her question. He dropped his arms, drumming his fingers on his thighs. “Captain’s ignorant, but don’t go to him; he lives in the past. Trent’s the muscle with his own demons to deal with. If the shit hits the fan, come to me or him.”

Relief engulfed her in a flood of warmth. She smiled. “Thank you.” She turned to leave. “Is my correspondence monitored?”

“No.” Grunt chuckled. “Do you want me to?”

Her shoulders relaxed at the ‘no,’ then twitched when he offered to. A laugh escaped her. “Not at all. Just didn’t want anyone reading about my whining to my parents about my inability to adult.”

“This isn’t on you, Tiny. You’ve been an excellent addition to the crew, one I don’t need to worry about.” He ushered her to his door with a hand on her elbow.

“Thanks again, Grunt.”

“Don’t mention it…when anyone’s within earshot.”

Alone in the passage, she stood there, her thoughts spinning.

What was he worrying about? Sure, she got hiding this little conversation from the others, but it felt so…

clandestine. Her moral compass was being tested.

She scowled and crossed to her room. Never had she needed to spin the handwheel and lock herself inside. Today, she did.

Trent had mentioned once that each cabin was an escape pod in case of emergencies. She could be shot into space while she slept.

“Breathe,” she muttered when her heartbeat stuttered. “No one’s out to kill you.”

With the way her mind raced, it took her ages to drift off.

Nenn jerked awake and lay there, reeling from having finally reached the bottom of the Amikar, even if it was in his dreams. Instead of an isolated pool with a waterfall cascading into it, large tongues tumbled over each other when they spilled onto the shore.

He sat up, sweat drenching his chest. That was an odd occurrence for a Giniiri used to extreme heat.

Which meant, as his heart pounded, his reaction was emotion-based.

He swung his legs off the bed and rose, summoning his symbiotes to cover the bottom half of his body in armor.

Barefoot, he headed to the mess, his tablet in hand.

A cup of asturo or strips of vibuy might calm him.

The silence of the ship pressed on him like the quiet of a forgotten cave.

He ordered his meal and sank onto the bench.

While he nibbled or sipped, he flicked through his conclusions, analyzing where the missing implants on the human bodies should’ve been.

The precision of the scars along her skin couldn’t compare to the haphazard tearing of the muscles and tendons where the implants had once been fitted.

Screws and metal brackets remained. No blood stained them, an indication she’d been dead when they stripped her.

A male padded past the table to order something from the replicate. Nenn recognized him by the smell alone.

“What has you awake?” he mumbled and bit off a piece of vibuy.

“The pod exploded.” Drafe paused then leaned against the counter.

“So I heard.” Nenn met his gaze. “Yet, you left the loving arms of your female?”

“Mm, I have a dilemma I need to work through.” Drafe sat opposite Nenn, nursing a jar of water.

“Care to share?” Nenn flipped his tablet over and shifted his bowl for Drafe to rest his arms on the table.